Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly objected to remarks made by Mark Martin regarding Anthony Alfredo’s performance in recent NASCAR races at Phoenix. Martin had expressed support for Alfredo on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Alfredo “can wheel,” but Earnhardt Jr. responded sharply by highlighting an incident where Alfredo spun out competitor Lavar Scott during the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
He wheeled it right into Lavar (Scott) Saturday night,
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote, directly referencing the collision. In that race, Alfredo finished in 10th place while Scott was left in 33rd after the spin.
Anthony Alfredo Steps in for Alex Bowman in the Cup Series
Anthony Alfredo, who races full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Alpha Prime Racing, took over the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series at Phoenix following Alex Bowman’s illness during the previous race at COTA. The 26-year-old completed his first Cup race of the year on Sunday, finishing 33rd.
Before the Phoenix race, Alfredo shared mixed feelings about filling in for Bowman, emphasizing the unusual circumstances.
It’s just weird, right? I don’t want to see anyone in the position Alex is in, so it’s hard for me to be excited,
Alfredo said, according to NASCAR.com.
That makes it certainly disappointing, because a lot of people are asking me how excited I am, and I’m not excited that I have to fill in for someone who’s not able to be in their own car this weekend.
Exploring Alfredo’s NASCAR Journey and Performance
Alfredo is no stranger to NASCAR’s top level. He drove the No. 38 car full-time for Front Row Motorsports in the 2021 Cup Series, where he scored one top-10 finish and ended the season ranked 30th overall. Since 2022, he has focused full-time on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where he has achieved 24 top-10 finishes in 155 starts, though a race victory has yet to come.
Despite the pressure of stepping into Bowman’s seat, Alfredo expressed confidence in his abilities and determination to perform well during his opportunity.
But it is, of course, a huge opportunity for me to go out there and do a good job and maybe turn some heads, but I don’t even feel like I have to prove anything to anybody. Honestly, I don’t think they would have picked me if they didn’t think I could do it right, so it’s not about that. I think it’s more going out there and just do what’s asked of me and doing a good job behind the wheel, filling in.
Race Results and Implications at Phoenix
In Sunday’s Cup race at Phoenix, Alfredo’s 33rd-place finish showed the challenges of competing in a substitute role under unexpected circumstances. Meanwhile, his involvement in the O’Reilly Series event on Saturday, including the collision with Scott, has sparked debate within the NASCAR community about his driving style and readiness for the Cup Series.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s criticism of Mark Martin’s more optimistic assessment brings added attention to Alfredo’s performance and trajectory as a driver. The tension highlights the scrutiny rising drivers face while trying to make their mark at the highest levels of NASCAR.
As Alfredo continues to compete full-time in the O’Reilly Series and occasionally fill in at the Cup level, his future progress will be closely watched by fans and experts alike. Whether he can quiet critics and earn consistent success remains a key question for the season ahead.
He wheeled it right into Lavar Saturday night.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 9, 2026
